[for Ellen]

[manwithoutfear]

I can actually read the label.

It takes a moment or two to find, granted. Initially, I'm too distracted by the fact that there's a large, leather trunk sitting outside my front door to even think there might be a label. But then, sure enough, my fingers brush up against a small piece of heavy parchment, and the braille reads as plain as day.

To Matt Murdock.

I suppose it is that time of year, isn't it?

Curious as to what's inside -- and fairly confident it isn't a guide dog to go with the laser cane I rarely use -- I slide my thumbs along the seam in search of a latch, coming across a cool brass keyhole with a key stuck inside. Slipping the key into my trouser pocket, I push open the trunk right out on the front porch, and stick my hand in.

Is that--?

"Silk."

A tie. No, wait-- A labelled tie. A small metal tab's been sewn into the back.

Blue, white stripes.

Could it be the Island's actually given me something useful?

Comments

[shewaswarned]

Ellen's inside the hut when he makes his way to the front door, slicing fresh fruit into a bowl, the sleeves of her silk blouse neatly rolled up to her elbows so she doesn't end up trying to get the stain of mango juice out of them later. Zeus, on the other hand, is freshly bathed after a day of swimming and conked out in the next room in a patch of sunlight, feet kicking as he dreams. She tries to get him washed before they come to visit, knowing his presence can often be a little offensive to Matt's strong olfactory senses.

When she doesn't hear anything for a while, she pauses, setting knife down and wiping off her hands before following the way he'd gone to the front of the hut.

"What, did the island give you something good this year?" she asks, squinting down at the trunk.